What’s going on with the Cleveland Browns?
The Cleveland Browns seem to always be in the news but never for the right reasons. This season they’ve started 2-6 and have been competitive but not enough to win. The team, the front office and the culture were all supposed to see an upgrade this season. They seemingly had what looked like a solid draft and a great defense to field what was supposed to be a competitive offense. Unfortunately it’s all spiraled out-of-place and they’re looking like the Browns the NFL is accustomed to.
The offense has only shown light in the passing game while the running game has accrued a measly 672 yards on the ground with all three running backs averaging less than 3.3 yards per carry. In fact the person with the highest rushing average is Josh McCown with 4.8 yards per carry and he’s tied for the most rushing touchdowns with one. Yes, one. Two rushing touchdowns is all the Browns have seen and the blame can be put on everyone from the running backs, the offensive line and the play calling.
Despite McCown having a career year behind what was supposed to be one of the best offensive lines he’s found himself earning every cent of that contract by taking hits, getting sacked and running more times than he probably has in his 14 year career. The offensive line has given up 27 sacks in eight games. That’s just over three sacks a game and not counting the numerous amount of times the quarterbacks have hit the ground. McCown is by no means the savior of Cleveland football but with the punishment he’s been taking and the heart he’s shown he’s about the only reason this team is coming close to any wins this season.
The defense has been a dumpster fire this year. Hot named, expensive players are burning bright in what was supposed to be a top five unit. The secondary has been atrocious all year. Joe Haden looks like Justin Gilbert and Donte Whitner can’t seem to connect on any tackles. Tramon Williams and Pierre Desir have been the best players in the secondary. Unfortunately with Williams we’re talking about a 32-year-old corner who’s served best not trying to keep up with 23-year-old legs and an up. With Desir you have an upcoming corner back who is playing well but shouldn’t look better than the guy who just signed a $67 million dollar contract.
The run defense has been even more disappointing this year than when it was last year when it still ranked 32nd in the league. The first selection in their draft went towards Danny Shelton who has done his part in being double teamed but for some reason two blockers on one guy isn’t helping the stats get any lower.
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And now?
Talk about trading some of the key parts to this Cleveland team. Joe Thomas has been consistently talked about as the trade deadline approached and it’s crazy to think that the ONE person who wants to stay in Cleveland is being made available. Other players included Alex Mack, Mitchell Schwartz, Paul Kruger and even Johnny Manziel. Alex Mack is logical since his contract is up at the end of this year but if you’re trading away your stalwart left tackle and bringing in a young quarterback next year what exactly are you giving him to work with? Manziel is a guy who I believe should’ve been gone a while back. I think he’s talented but severely limited in a game that needs you to both have your head on straight as well as meet the physical demand.
So what’s going on?
I’m not sure and I’m not too confident that the Cleveland front office is sure but they need to figure it out. It looks like a bunch of panic going on and with the way things are going Haslam might be hard pressed to not go against his word in “blowing the team up”.
I like Pettine as a coach but he’s falling down the same road as so many other coaches have done and it explains why none of them are still in Cleveland. Farmer was a great scout and talent evaluator coming from Kansas City and the jury is still out on whether he can or can’t be a GM but some of the decisions that have been made in the past couple years have been questionable. There’s a lot of work to be done in Cleveland and this off-season is make or break for this staff if they don’t find themselves out on Black Monday.